South Dakota State Aviation System Plan
Economic Development Research Group, under subcontract to Mead & Hunt, for the South Dakota DOT, 2010
EDR Group analyzed the economic constrictions of the state’s airports as part of a State Aviation System Plan. Analysis of airports were conducted on three levels of geography: (1) EDR Group worked with its teaming partners and the South Dakota Department of Transportation to craft specific catchment regions for each airport; (2) the analysis was consistent with designated economic development regions; and (3) results were calculated for overall state totals. Secondly, on an airport bases, aviation’s economic contributions to the annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally and pheasant hunting in South Dakota were assessed. Third, statewide analyses were developed to assess the impact of construction on airports and the contribution of airports to supporting off-airport economic development in South Dakota. The analysis was conducted using a combination of data from South Dakota and the US Department of Commerce, the IMPLAN model, access programming, surveys a (airport managers and tenants, commercial & GA visitors, and off airport dependent businesses), GIS and proprietary databases.